6 - Poverty Eradication Dilemma: Understanding Poverty Dynamics in Nebbi District, Uganda
Corresponding Author(s) : Alfred Lakwo
Africa Development,
Vol. 33 No. 2 (2008): Africa Development
Abstract
This paper addresses a current methodological gap in poverty measurement, which stems from acknowledging the multi-dimensionality of poverty, on the one hand, and using an income/consumption measurement of poverty as the norm, on the other. The current income-based measure of poverty presents only part of measuring poverty status as a whole. The consumption basket is wrongly taken by those of economic inclination to wholly represent the entire, even non- monetary valued, range of poverty. The paper approaches this dilemma using a participatory and community-driven approach where the subjective views of people are used to define and categorize the poor, contrary to the poverty line approach. Such categorization was based on the perceived wellness of life and what made/denied wellness. A survey follows to explore the quantitative scope of poverty. This participatory, qualitative and quantitative mix of method, it is argued, provides for ascertaining organizational accountability in terms of the relevance of programme targeting and outreach as well as performance measurement over time. The method can also be used to deepen current participatory poverty assessments that simply stop at defining and identifying poverty causes, effects and solutions.
Keywords
Download Citation
Endnote/Zotero/Mendeley (RIS)BibTeX
- AFARD, 2006, AFARD Strategic Direction 2007–11: Deepening and widening impacts. Nebbi: AFARD.
- Agarwal, B., 1994, A Field of One’s Own: Gender and land rights in South Asia. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
- Agarwal, B., 1997, ‘‘Bargaining’ and gender relations: Within and beyond the household’, Feminist Economics 1(1): 1–51.
- Appleton, S., 1995, The Rich are Just Like Us Only Richer: Poverty functions or consumption functions? WPS/95-4. Centre for the Study of African Economies, Oxford (March).
- Appleton, S., 1999, Changes in Poverty and Inequality in Uganda, 1992–1997. Kampala: MoFPED.
- Appleton, S., 2001, Poverty Dynamics During Growth: The case of Uganda, 1999– 2000. Mimeo. School of Economics, University of Nottingham.
- Chronic Poverty Research Centre in Uganda, 2005, Chronic Poverty in Uganda: The policy challenges. Kampala: DRT.
- District Planning Unit, 2006, Nebbi District Local Government 3-Year Development Plan for FY 2006/07–2008/08. Nebbi: District Planning Unit (June).
- Kanbur, R. and Squire, L., 1999, The Evolution of Thinking About Poverty: Exploring the interaction. Washington, D.C.: The World Bank.
- Lakwo, A., 2006, Microfinance, Rural Livelihoods and Women’s Empowerment in Uganda. Leiden: African Studies Centre.
- MoFPED, 2001, Uganda Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper Progress Report 2001: Summary of Poverty Status Report. Kampala: MoFPED (8 February).
- MoFPED, 2002, Second Participatory Poverty Assessment Report: Deepening the understanding of poverty. Kampala (December).
- MoFPED, 2004, Poverty Eradication Action Plan, 2004/05–2007/08. Kampala. MoFPED, 2005, Poverty Status Report, 2005: Progress in implementing PEAP. Kampala.
- MoFPED, n.d., Uganda Poverty Status Report, 2003: Achievements and pointers for the PEAP Revision. Kampala.
- Nebbi District Local Government, 2002, Participatory Poverty Assessment for (i) Parombo Sub-county; (ii) Pakwach Town Council; (iii) Nebbi Town Council; and (iv) Zeu Sub-county. CEFORD.
- Scott, J., 1998, Seeing Like a State: Why certain schemes to improve the human condition have failed. New Haven: Yale University Press.
- UNDP, 1997, The Human Development Report: Human Development to Eradicate Poverty. New York: Oxford University Press
- World Bank, 2000, World Development Report 2000/01: Attacking Poverty. New York: Oxford University Press.
References
AFARD, 2006, AFARD Strategic Direction 2007–11: Deepening and widening impacts. Nebbi: AFARD.
Agarwal, B., 1994, A Field of One’s Own: Gender and land rights in South Asia. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Agarwal, B., 1997, ‘‘Bargaining’ and gender relations: Within and beyond the household’, Feminist Economics 1(1): 1–51.
Appleton, S., 1995, The Rich are Just Like Us Only Richer: Poverty functions or consumption functions? WPS/95-4. Centre for the Study of African Economies, Oxford (March).
Appleton, S., 1999, Changes in Poverty and Inequality in Uganda, 1992–1997. Kampala: MoFPED.
Appleton, S., 2001, Poverty Dynamics During Growth: The case of Uganda, 1999– 2000. Mimeo. School of Economics, University of Nottingham.
Chronic Poverty Research Centre in Uganda, 2005, Chronic Poverty in Uganda: The policy challenges. Kampala: DRT.
District Planning Unit, 2006, Nebbi District Local Government 3-Year Development Plan for FY 2006/07–2008/08. Nebbi: District Planning Unit (June).
Kanbur, R. and Squire, L., 1999, The Evolution of Thinking About Poverty: Exploring the interaction. Washington, D.C.: The World Bank.
Lakwo, A., 2006, Microfinance, Rural Livelihoods and Women’s Empowerment in Uganda. Leiden: African Studies Centre.
MoFPED, 2001, Uganda Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper Progress Report 2001: Summary of Poverty Status Report. Kampala: MoFPED (8 February).
MoFPED, 2002, Second Participatory Poverty Assessment Report: Deepening the understanding of poverty. Kampala (December).
MoFPED, 2004, Poverty Eradication Action Plan, 2004/05–2007/08. Kampala. MoFPED, 2005, Poverty Status Report, 2005: Progress in implementing PEAP. Kampala.
MoFPED, n.d., Uganda Poverty Status Report, 2003: Achievements and pointers for the PEAP Revision. Kampala.
Nebbi District Local Government, 2002, Participatory Poverty Assessment for (i) Parombo Sub-county; (ii) Pakwach Town Council; (iii) Nebbi Town Council; and (iv) Zeu Sub-county. CEFORD.
Scott, J., 1998, Seeing Like a State: Why certain schemes to improve the human condition have failed. New Haven: Yale University Press.
UNDP, 1997, The Human Development Report: Human Development to Eradicate Poverty. New York: Oxford University Press
World Bank, 2000, World Development Report 2000/01: Attacking Poverty. New York: Oxford University Press.